US5930062A - Actively stabilized magnetoresistive head - Google Patents

Actively stabilized magnetoresistive head Download PDF

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Publication number
US5930062A
US5930062A US08/725,795 US72579596A US5930062A US 5930062 A US5930062 A US 5930062A US 72579596 A US72579596 A US 72579596A US 5930062 A US5930062 A US 5930062A
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Prior art keywords
magnetoresistive
magnetoresistive element
stripe
current
head
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Robert J. Davidson
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Hewlett Packard Co
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Priority to SG1997000869A priority patent/SG67379A1/en
Priority to EP97105963A priority patent/EP0834864B1/fr
Priority to DE69729834T priority patent/DE69729834T2/de
Priority to MYPI97001698A priority patent/MY121255A/en
Priority to JP9262481A priority patent/JPH10112011A/ja
Priority to KR1019970050907A priority patent/KR100470091B1/ko
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Assigned to HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP reassignment HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
    • G11B5/39—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects
    • G11B5/3903—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects using magnetic thin film layers or their effects, the films being part of integrated structures
    • G11B5/3906—Details related to the use of magnetic thin film layers or to their effects
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
    • G11B5/37—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices using Hall or Hall-related effect, e.g. planar-Hall effect or pseudo-Hall effect
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
    • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
    • B82Y10/00—Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
    • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
    • B82Y25/00—Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/31—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive using thin films
    • G11B5/3109—Details
    • G11B5/313—Disposition of layers
    • G11B5/3143—Disposition of layers including additional layers for improving the electromagnetic transducing properties of the basic structure, e.g. for flux coupling, guiding or shielding
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
    • G11B5/39—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects
    • G11B5/3903—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects using magnetic thin film layers or their effects, the films being part of integrated structures
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
    • G11B5/39—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects
    • G11B5/3903—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects using magnetic thin film layers or their effects, the films being part of integrated structures
    • G11B5/3906—Details related to the use of magnetic thin film layers or to their effects
    • G11B5/3912—Arrangements in which the active read-out elements are transducing in association with active magnetic shields, e.g. magnetically coupled shields
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
    • G11B5/39—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects
    • G11B5/3903—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects using magnetic thin film layers or their effects, the films being part of integrated structures
    • G11B5/3906—Details related to the use of magnetic thin film layers or to their effects
    • G11B5/3945—Heads comprising more than one sensitive element
    • G11B5/3948—Heads comprising more than one sensitive element the sensitive elements being active read-out elements
    • G11B5/3951—Heads comprising more than one sensitive element the sensitive elements being active read-out elements the active elements being arranged on several parallel planes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B2005/0002—Special dispositions or recording techniques
    • G11B2005/0005—Arrangements, methods or circuits
    • G11B2005/001—Controlling recording characteristics of record carriers or transducing characteristics of transducers by means not being part of their structure
    • G11B2005/0013—Controlling recording characteristics of record carriers or transducing characteristics of transducers by means not being part of their structure of transducers, e.g. linearisation, equalisation
    • G11B2005/0016—Controlling recording characteristics of record carriers or transducing characteristics of transducers by means not being part of their structure of transducers, e.g. linearisation, equalisation of magnetoresistive transducers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
    • G11B5/39—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects
    • G11B2005/3996—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects large or giant magnetoresistive effects [GMR], e.g. as generated in spin-valve [SV] devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/31—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive using thin films
    • G11B5/3109—Details
    • G11B5/3113—Details for improving the magnetic domain structure or avoiding the formation or displacement of undesirable magnetic domains
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
    • G11B5/31—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive using thin films
    • G11B5/3109—Details
    • G11B5/313—Disposition of layers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to magnetoresistive heads. More particularly, the invention relates to stabilization of magnetoresistive heads.
  • Magnetoresistive (MR) heads have been employed to reduce transducer size. Magnetoresistive heads comprise conductive thin films formed on a substrate using techniques similar to those used in manufacturing semiconductors.
  • a problem with all magnetoresistive heads is unstable magnetic domain states which lead to noise and error rate problems.
  • a magnetoresistive head is being used to write to magnetic media, or as the media moves relative to the head, a magnetoresistive element included in the head is subjected to external fields that tend to rotate magnetization away from its most stable orientation into orientations that can lead to multiple domain states.
  • a domain is a group of atoms organized into a bounded region. In each domain, magnetic moments of the atoms in that domain are aligned. Each domain is magnetically saturated and behaves like a magnet with its own magnetic moment and axis. It is undesirable to have multiple domain states in a magnetoresistive element of a magnetoresistive head.
  • One type of magnetoresistive head is a single stripe magnetoresistive head, which include a single magnetoresistive element.
  • Single stripe magnetoresistive heads are typically shielded by soft magnetic and electrically conductive layers known as top and bottom shields.
  • a dual-stripe magnetoresistive head includes two spaced apart magnetoresistive elements. Dual-stripe magnetoresistive heads are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,987 to Anthony et al.; 5,270,892 to Naberhuis; 5,079,831 to Reid; and 3,860,965 to Voegeli, which patents are incorporated herein by reference.
  • SAL soft adjacent layer
  • IBM International Business Machines
  • GMR giant magnetoresistive
  • SAL SAL
  • GMR heads are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,446,613 to Rottmayer; and 5,442,508 to Smith, which patents are incorporated herein by reference.
  • magnetoresistive heads are in analog audio applications. See, for example, a paper titled "Thin-Film Read Head for Analog Audio Application" by W. F. Druyvesteyn, L. Postma, G. H. J. Somers, and J. De Wilde, Philips Research Laboratories. This paper discloses that a main advantage of employing magnetoresistive heads is that photolithographic processing techniques can be used. The paper also describes that, when using a magnetoresistive head, signal is much higher at low frequencies than with an inductive head. Further, in automatic azimuth control audio recorders, where each audio track is read out with two separate heads, magnetoresistive heads provide the advantages of reduced crosstalk and reduced gap scatter.
  • Magnetic feedback in which a conductive layer is formed under a NiFe magnetoresistive element, and an electric current is passed through the conductor to generate a magnetic field opposite to the excitation field. This decreases distortion and Barkhausen noise.
  • Barkhausen noise is caused by an effect observed in ferromagnetic materials whereby magnetization proceeds as a series of finite jumps even though magnetizing flux is increased steadily. This happens because spin magnetic moments present in the material can only have certain orientations. The minute jumps correspond to the spin changing from one allowed orientation to another. Barkhausen noise is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,987 to Anthony et al.
  • magnetoresistive heads are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,444,589 to Hu et al.; 5,422,571 to Gurney et al.; 5,442,507 to Koga et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,778 to Lin et al.; U.S. Pat. No 5,436,777 to Soeya et al.; 5,412,518 to Christner et al; and 5,142,425 to Gailbreath, Jr. et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,304 discloses a variety of conductor arrangements that could be employed in various alternative embodiments of the instant invention.
  • magnetoresistive heads are in computer memory systems, such as disk drive memory systems of various sizes or formats, or magnetic tape memory systems of various sizes or formats.
  • computer hard disk drives have a pivoting support arm that movably carries one or more actuator arms relative to one or more corresponding rotatable magnetic disks.
  • both the top and bottom surfaces of each hard drive are configured to store tracks of information in the form of magnetic media provided on a surface of the hard disk. Therefore, each surface provides a unique data storage device.
  • a support arm is pivoted into position by a rotary servo motor.
  • Each actuator arm extends across the disk to position a magnetic head radially over concentric data tracks in the disk pursuant to position commands received from a drive controller.
  • the invention provides a computer comprising a data storage device for use with a magnetic storage media, and a magnetoresistive transducer, including at least one magnetoresistive element, selectively reading digital data from the magnetic storage media, a first conductor connected to the magnetoresistive element and supplying current to the magnetoresistive element, a second conductor connected to the magnetoresistive element and transporting current from the magnetoresistive element; a control conductor parallel to the magnetoresistive element, and a magnetic feedback stabilization circuit holding the magnetoresistive transducer in a stable magnetic configuration during reading from the magnetic storage media.
  • a magnetoresistive head comprises a magnetoresistive element, a first conductor connected to the magnetoresistive element and supplying current to the magnetoresistive element, a second conductor connected to the magnetoresistive element and transporting current from the magnetoresistive element, first and second spaced apart shields on either side of the magnetoresistive element, the shields being formed of conductive material, and a stabilization circuit controllably directing current through one of the shields.
  • a dual stripe magnetoresistive head comprises a first magnetoresistive element, a first conductor connected to the magnetoresistive element and supplying current to the magnetoresistive element, a second conductor connected to the magnetoresistive element and transporting current from the magnetoresistive element, a second magnetoresistive element, a first conductor connected to the second magnetoresistive element and supplying current to the second magnetoresistive element, a second conductor connected to the second magnetoresistive element and transporting current from the second magnetoresistive element, and a stabilization circuit controllably directing current through each of the shields.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a computer disk drive system included in the computer of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a circuit drawing, including a diagrammatical perspective view of a magnetoresistive element and a control conductor of an actively stabilized magnetoresistive head employed in the disk drive system of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical side view of the magnetoresistive element and control conductor of the magnetoresistive head of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a circuit drawing, including a diagrammatical perspective view of a magnetoresistive element, and a shield used as control conductor, of a single stripe magnetoresistive head in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a circuit drawing, partially in block diagram form, including a diagrammatical perspective view of a magnetoresistive element, and shield being used as control conductor, of a dual stripe magnetoresistive head in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a more detailed circuit drawing illustrating an equivalent circuit for the circuit of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 1 shows a computer 10 embodying the invention.
  • the computer 10 can be either a personal computer, a mainframe computer, a mini computer, a network server, or any other type of computer.
  • the invention is illustrated as being employed in a computer in FIG. 1, the invention has a wide variety of applications.
  • Certain aspects of the invention can be used in connection with any storage media, for storing either analog or digital information.
  • the invention can be embodied in a magnetic tape data storage device, in connection with any of a variety of types of disk storage devices, etc.
  • the computer 10 includes a disk drive data storage device 12 embodying the invention (FIG. 2), as well as a tape drive data storage device 13 embodying the invention.
  • the invention will be described primarily in connection with the disk drive data storage device 12, by way of example.
  • the invention is embodied in the tape drive data storage device 13, or in applications other than computer applications, in a substantially similar manner.
  • the disk drive data storage device 12 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2.
  • the disk drive system 12 includes a stacked array 14 of multiple magnetic hard disks 16-19 aligned substantially along a central axis of rotation 20.
  • the magnetic disks 16-19 have associated, centrally located hubs (referenced generally by numeral 22) and are separated from one another by interposed spacers.
  • the disk drive system 12 further includes a frame 24, and a spindle assembly supported by the frame and carrying the magnetic disks 16-19 for rotation relative to the frame.
  • the disk drive system 12 further includes a motor (not shown) coupled to the spindle and selectively causing the disks 16-19 to rotate about the axis 20.
  • the spindle assembly includes a top clamp 26 for retaining the disks 16-19.
  • the spindle disk drive system 12 includes a support member 28 fixed relative to the frame 24, and a head/arm assembly 30 pivotably supported by the support member 28 for movement relative to the stacked array 14.
  • the disk drive system 12 further includes a motor (not shown) pivotally moving the head/arm assembly 30 relative to the stacked array 14.
  • the head/arm assembly 30 includes a comb-like array of individual carrier arms 32 carried by the support member 28 and accurately pivoted relative to the support member 28 by the motor.
  • Each carrier arm 32 of the illustrated embodiment is typically of a two-part construction including a first portion 34 defining a proximal end, and a suspension member 36 that is swaged, spot welded, or otherwise fastened to the first portion 34 to define a distal end.
  • the head/arm assembly 30 includes magnetoresistive heads 38 and 40 supported by the suspension member 36 at the distal end.
  • the disk drive data storage device 12 includes electronic circuitry connected to the head 38 for reading from the upper surface of the disk 16, by reading pulses, and the disk drive data storage device 12 includes electronic circuitry connected to the head 40 for writing to the upper surface of the disk 16.
  • the heads 38 and 40 are housed in a common housing in the illustrated embodiment, but are housed separately in alternative embodiments.
  • one head 38 is employed for reading to a magnetic disk, and a separate head 40 is used for writing to the magnetic disk.
  • a combined head is used for both reading and writing.
  • FIG. 2 Only one support arm 32 and head 38 is completely shown in FIG. 2. Other heads 38 are supported by similar support arms 32 aligned directly beneath the upper arm 32 shown in FIG. 2. The support arms 32 are movable relative to the storage disks 16-19 such that positioning of one head 38 likewise positions each respective read/write head 38 and support arm 32. In one embodiment, two heads 38 are supported by each arm 32, one for each side of a disk 16-19. Other details of construction of one disk drive system that could be employed for the disk drive system 12 are provided in a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/589,674 titled "Apparatus and Method for Thermal Asperity Detection and Failure Prediction" (attorney docket 10950981-1), naming Bradley K. Davis and Kenneth Eldredge as inventors, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and incorporated herein by reference.
  • the head 38 is a magnetoresistive head.
  • a magnetoresistive head includes an element that changes in resistance when acted on by a magnetic field.
  • GMR giant
  • a magnetoresistive element included in the head is subject to external fields that tend to rotate the magnetization away from its most stable orientation into orientations that can lead to multiple domain states.
  • the magnetization is actively held in a stable configuration.
  • FIG. 3 also illustrates control circuitry 42 included in the disk drive data storage device 12.
  • the head 38 includes a magnetoresistive element 44 and a control conductor 46 parallel to the magnetoresistive element 44, each connected to the control circuit by a conductor (circuit trace) for supplying current thereto, and another conductor (circuit trace) for transporting current therefrom.
  • the field required to actively hold the magnetization in a stable configuration is provided by the conductor 46.
  • the control circuitry 42 feeds a stabilizing current through the conductor and controls the value of the current to maintain the magnetization in its most stable configuration.
  • the control circuitry 42 provides an error signal which is a copy of the usual read back signal from the head.
  • the magnetoresistive element 44 has opposite ends 48 and 50 defining a length L.
  • the magnetoresistive element 44 has a length L, width W, and thickness T appropriate for the desired application in which the head 38 will be employed. Any appropriate length, width, and thickness described in the incorporated patents can be employed for the magnetoresistive element 44. Similarly, any appropriate method of manufacture described in the incorporated patents can be employed for the head 38.
  • the end 48 is connected to ground.
  • the control conductor 46 has opposite ends 52 and 54 defining a length. The end 54 is connected to ground.
  • the control conductor 46 has a length, width, and thickness equivalent or similar to the length, width, and thickness of the magnetoresistive element 44. Width is defined along the vertical direction in the views of FIGS. 3 and 5, and thickness is defined as the direction into the page in the views of FIGS. 3 and 5.
  • the control conductor is at least as long and as wide as the magnetoresistive element 44, and may be longer, wider, or both longer and wider than the control conductor.
  • the control conductor 46 is preferably a thin film. More particularly, the head 38 is preferably formed by a thin film manufacturing process including steps for forming both the magnetoresistive element 44 and the control conductor 46.
  • the control circuitry 42 includes circuitry 56 which measures the resistance or electrical resistivity of the magnetoresistive element 44 to determine the magnetization state M of the element 44, and controls current flow I c through the control conductor 46 to attempt to maintain magnetization of the magnetoresistive element 44 in its most stable configuration.
  • the circuitry 56 includes a current source 58 providing a current I s , a voltage source 60, an adder 62, and amplifier 64, and a resistor 66 defining a reference resistance R ref .
  • the circuitry 56 employs the following principle:
  • FIG. 4 illustrates magnetic field intensity maintained in a stable configuration by the control conductor 46.
  • the magnetoresistive element is shielded by soft magnetic and electrically conductive layers (top and bottom shields) included in the head. These shields can also serve as part of the active magnetic stabilization circuit in the capacity of the control conductor.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a magnetoresistive head 138 in accordance with one alternative preferred embodiment, including shields 170 and 172.
  • the shield 170 serves the same function as the control conductor 46 of the head 38 of the embodiment shown and described in control conductor 46 of the head 38 of the embodiment shown and described in connection with FIG. 3.
  • the head 138 includes a magnetoresistive element 144 having opposite ends 148 and 150 defining a length.
  • the shield 170 has opposite ends 174 and 176 defining a length parallel to the length of the magnetoresistive element 144. Any appropriate length, width, and thickness described in the incorporated patents can be employed for the magnetoresistive element 144. Similarly, any appropriate method of manufacture described in the incorporated patents can be employed for the head 138.
  • the end 148 is connected to ground.
  • the end 176 of the shield 170 is connected to ground.
  • the shield 170 has a length and width greater than the length and width of the magnetoresistive element 144.
  • the distance between the shields and the element 144 is determined by desired readback characteristics for the head, such as how wide the desired readback pulses are to be.
  • the shields 170 and 172 have lengths, widths, and thicknesses as described in the incorporated patents mentioned above.
  • the shields 170 and 172 are formed of conductive materials such as the conductive materials described used for shields described in the incorporated patents. For example, NiFe, or alloys including any of Fe, Co, and Ni can be employed.
  • the shields 170 and 172 are preferably wider than the magnetoresistive element 144.
  • the shields 170 and 172 are preferably thin films. More particularly, the head 138 is preferably formed by a thin film manufacturing process including steps for forming the magnetoresistive element 144 together with the shields 170 and 172.
  • the head 138 is connected to circuitry 156 which measures the electrical resistivity of the magnetoresistive element 144 to determine the magnetization state of the element 144, and controls current flow through the shield 170 to attempt to maintain magnetization of the magnetoresistive element 44 in its most stable configuration.
  • the circuitry 156 operates in a manner substantially similar to the manner of operation of the circuitry 56, and includes a current source 158 providing a current I s , a voltage source 160, an adder 162, an amplifier 164, and a resistor 166 defining a reference resistance R ref .
  • FIG. 5 is advantageous over the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 because there is no need to introduce an additional conductor into the recording gap. Instead, an existing component (a shield) performs dual roles. Because there is no need to introduce an additional conductor, higher recording densities can be achieved.
  • the head is a dual stripe magnetoresistive (DSMR) head having a pair of current-carrying Hall plates.
  • the plates, or stripes change in resistance when acted upon by a magnetic field imparted by regions forming a data track on a disk.
  • Each stripe therefore forms a read head element that senses data on a track being read.
  • the stripes are each formed from a resistor, with the resistor of each stripe being differentially biased by the magnetic field from the current in the other stripe.
  • the magnetic field increases or decreases stripe resistance. For a dual stripe head element, one element increases while the other decreases in resistance, in response to an applied magnetic field.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a magnetoresistive head 238 in accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment, including dual magnetoresistive elements or stripes 278 and 280.
  • the stripe 278 has opposite ends 282 and 284 defining a length.
  • the stripe 280 has opposite ends 286 and 288 defining a length parallel to the length of the magnetoresistive element 144.
  • Any appropriate length, width, and thickness described in the incorporated patents can be employed for the magnetoresistive elements 278 or 280.
  • any appropriate method of manufacture described in the incorporated patents can be employed for the magnetoresistive elements 278 or 280.
  • the ends 284 and 288 are connected to ground.
  • the magnetoresistive elements 278 and 280 are formed of conductive materials such as the conductive materials described used for magnetoresistive elements described in the incorporated patents.
  • the head 238 is preferably formed by a thin film manufacturing process including steps for forming the magnetoresistive element 278 together with the magnetoresistive element 280.
  • FIG. 6 is advantageous over the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 because there is no need to introduce an additional conductor into the recording gap. Instead, the magnetoresistive elements perform dual roles. Because there is no need to introduce an additional conductor, higher recording densities can be achieved.
  • Circuitry 290 causes current to flow through each of the stripes 278 and 280. More particularly, the circuitry 290 includes a voltage controlled current source 292 connected to the end 282 of the stripe 278, a voltage controlled current source 294 connected to the end 286 of the stripe 280, and control electronics 296 adjusting the amount of current respectively supplied to the stripes 278 and 280 to maintain magnetization in a stable configuration.
  • the magnetoresistive elements 278 and 280 each provide bias fields for the other due to the flow of the sense current supplied by the current sources 292 and 294.
  • the sense current for each stripe 278 and 280 is controlled independently and adjusted by the control electronics 296 so as to maintain the magnetization of the stripes in a stable configuration.
  • H 21 is the bias field in the stripe 278 due to the sense current I s1 in the stripe 280
  • H 12 is the bias field in the stripe 278 due to the sense current I S2 in the stripe 280, and vice versa.
  • the control electronics 296 determines the electrical resistivity of each stripe 278 and 280, and uses that information to infer the magnetization state of each stripe using the following relationship:
  • ⁇ T is the total resistivity of stripe 278, ⁇ O is the average resistivity, ⁇ is the maximum change in resistivity, and ⁇ M1 characterizes the orientation of the magnetization.
  • control of the dual stripes is performed based on electrical resistivity of each stripe.
  • FIG. 6 avoids the introduction of an additional conductor into the recording gap. High recording densities can therefore be obtained.
  • Active stabilization will reduce noise and improve linearity of magnetic field versus output voltage for the transducer.
  • the invention has application with a variety of type of magnetoresistive heads or transducers, including dual stripe designs, and single stripe designs, and for use with a variety of magnetic media, such as magnetic disks or magnetic tapes of various formats or sizes.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Nanotechnology (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Magnetic Heads (AREA)
  • Digital Magnetic Recording (AREA)
  • Recording Or Reproducing By Magnetic Means (AREA)
US08/725,795 1996-10-03 1996-10-03 Actively stabilized magnetoresistive head Expired - Lifetime US5930062A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/725,795 US5930062A (en) 1996-10-03 1996-10-03 Actively stabilized magnetoresistive head
SG1997000869A SG67379A1 (en) 1996-10-03 1997-03-20 Actively stabilized magnetoresistive head
EP97105963A EP0834864B1 (fr) 1996-10-03 1997-04-10 Tête magnétorésistive à stabilisation active
DE69729834T DE69729834T2 (de) 1996-10-03 1997-04-10 Magnetoresistiver Kopf mit aktiver Stabilisierung
MYPI97001698A MY121255A (en) 1996-10-03 1997-04-19 Actively stabilized magnetoresistive head
JP9262481A JPH10112011A (ja) 1996-10-03 1997-09-26 コンピュータおよび磁気抵抗ヘッド
KR1019970050907A KR100470091B1 (ko) 1996-10-03 1997-10-02 이중스트라이프자기저항헤드,이를포함한컴퓨터및이의제조방법

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/725,795 US5930062A (en) 1996-10-03 1996-10-03 Actively stabilized magnetoresistive head

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US5930062A true US5930062A (en) 1999-07-27

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US (1) US5930062A (fr)
EP (1) EP0834864B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH10112011A (fr)
KR (1) KR100470091B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69729834T2 (fr)
MY (1) MY121255A (fr)
SG (1) SG67379A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

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EP1184845A3 (fr) * 2000-08-31 2003-01-22 Nec Corporation Capteur magnétorésistif, tête magnétorésistive et appareil d'enregistrement/reproduction magnétique

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1184845A3 (fr) * 2000-08-31 2003-01-22 Nec Corporation Capteur magnétorésistif, tête magnétorésistive et appareil d'enregistrement/reproduction magnétique
US6714374B1 (en) 2000-08-31 2004-03-30 Nec Corporation Magnetoresistive sensor, magnetoresistive head, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69729834D1 (de) 2004-08-19
EP0834864B1 (fr) 2004-07-14
EP0834864A3 (fr) 1998-08-12
EP0834864A2 (fr) 1998-04-08
KR100470091B1 (ko) 2005-06-17
DE69729834T2 (de) 2005-07-21
JPH10112011A (ja) 1998-04-28
MY121255A (en) 2006-01-28
KR19980032502A (ko) 1998-07-25
SG67379A1 (en) 1999-09-21

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